The Shadow Forge Shutdown was a Fey/Shadow conflict in which The Curator enlisted the aid of the many heroes of the Greedy Green in order to break into a factory in the Shadowfell to finally stop Horatio Cheshire for good.
About
Utilizing fey keys to breach the Shadow Forge, the assembled heroes encountered formidable resistance from Cheshire's forces, including numerous Cheshire Orcs and Goblins. The Forge itself posed a significant threat, manifesting massive Shadow Guardians designed to eliminate intruders perceived as "diseases" within its system. The assault unfolded across multiple fronts, with intense battles testing the resolve and coordination of the allied forces.
The operation reached its zenith in a dramatic confrontation with Horatio Cheshire, who was mounted atop his Dragonhydra—the same formidable creature previously encountered during the assault on Seglock University. The ensuing battle was fierce and exacted a heavy toll, resulting in the deaths of several valiant characters. Ultimately, the heroes succeeded in slaying Cheshire and his Dragonhydra, effectively crippling his operations and bringing an end to the immediate threat posed by the Shadow Forge.
The victory at the Shadow Forge Shutdown was significant, leading to the cessation of Cheshire's abominable creations and providing a measure of relief to the beleaguered regions affected by his machinations. However, the conflict underscored the persistent dangers emanating from the Shadowfell and the ongoing need for vigilance against similar threats.
Highlights
- Assault on the Shadow Forge
- The Iron Hawks led the charge, battling Cheshire Orcs and Goblins.
- They destroyed a crucial Forge control panel while fending off hordes of enemies.
- Tristram's Popcorn Shack provided strategic respite during the intense fights.
- Defense of the Portal
- Fey allies kept the portal open to the final chamber, sacrificing themselves against relentless waves of monsters.
- Heroes fought until resources ran dry, forcing a retreat to regroup for the final battle.
- Confrontation with Horatio Cheshire
- Horatio was finally confronted in the heart of the Forge.
- Strategic strikes and heroic sacrifices led to the demise of Horatio and his Dragonhydra.
Participants
- The Band of the Iron Hawk (Vadath, Delphi, Linden, Tristram)
- Fey allies and adventurers from the Greedy Green (including future dragon Durzibethinus)
- Cheshire's Forces:
- Armored Goblins, Orcs, Flesh Mounds, Legionnaires, Sorrowsworn.
- The Dragonhydra and Shadowforge Constructs
- Horatio Cheshire himself
Perspectives
Durian
Despite our best efforts, it was clear that Cheshire's monsters would continue to wreak havoc across Isonhound until the mad alchemist could be stopped at the source. I answered a correspondence from a Fey entity calling himself the Curator, requesting my help with that very matter. I joined a large group of adventurers at a secret location where the Curator debriefed us on his plan. As it turned out, Horatio Cheshire had somehow broken into a forge located in the Shadowfell and was using the equipment in this Shadow Forge to create his monstrous abominations. I was split into a team tasked with infiltrating the forge and destroying the machines used to create the monsters. As we snuck in through one of the Curator's Fey portals, we heard the humming sound of several capsules lined along the walls continuously spitting out more Cheshire monsters. Fighting off an endless supply of monsters would have been a fruitless effort unless we could also cut off the machines' power supply. Across the room, we heard the blare of another enormous machine powering up. In a flash, the machine produced a gargantuan assemblage of reanimated flesh and metal. The grotesque abomination sprung to life, creeping forward with thunderous steps towards us. My psionic attacks proved very ineffective against a monster which had no means of thought, so I flew swiftly past it and focused my attacks on points of the machine that appeared to be feeding it power. Targeting the machine seemed to work as parts of the forge began to crumble around us. Much of the team fought through the horde of monsters towards the other end of the room, joining me in attacking the weak points of the main machine before it could produce another abomination. As we appeared to finally cut off the last thread of power to the machine, the ceiling of the forge started to cave in and we were all forced to retreat back through the Curator's portal. Having successfully taken down the machines in the Shadow Forge, the Curator sent us to defend a portal leading to the mad alchemist himself, as it was currently under attack by invisible Shadowfell monsters. Being capable of seeing invisibility, I hovered over the battlefield and relayed to my teammates where to target their blows. This method proved effective, as we were able to protect the portal long enough for the adventurers on the other side to weaken Horatio Cheshire and his Dracohydra that he had been passing off as Tiamat. We made our way through the portal ourselves and joined the rest of the adventurers to help land the killing blows on Cheshire, finally putting an end to his abominations. The Curator thanked us, offering us each a favor of information from his vast library of Fey knowledge as gratitude for our service.
Tristram
While thinking of my life choices buried under several tons of rubble from the defeated shadow forge I thought about and figured some things out. These things I dared not speak aloud in this plane or even around so many unknown ears back at the chapel.
First and foremost, we had a rough time with a forge that was masterless. I did not know it at the time but the other two assault teams had even more trouble than we did. I believe at least one team has casualties that resulted in Linden having to split hares and send part of her consciousness into their forges to do some (unpaid) rez work. We would be going into the final battle with less resources against a forge with one fulfilling the forge master role. This was not acceptable.
Second, the key was the key to the whole situation. Whoever had the key could control the forge. The forge and the minions were not intrinsically on the same side, hence the Orc tanks as mentioned in part one. While the key was in control of the bad man, they would most likely be on the same side. Deny the key to the Forge master, or the Forge master to the forge, then things get a little more interesting for the now 2 sets of opponents. Claiming the key may be a little dicey so that option would be a last resort. Until then claiming the forge and getting all insane with power was not acceptable.
Thirdly, the other main goal is to shut down the 4th forge and get out and let the forge creations get reabsorbed. Removing the key to the curator would keep anyone from restarting the whole process. Everyone likes a good story, sequels almost never do as well as the original, so I am ok with never having to return to this disgusting realm. The color scheme is tackey and interferes with my Hypnotic cube effects, which is not acceptable.
I had also hoped that when Horatio was outside of the protections of the Shadowforge, not only would the forge be more vulnerable, but Horatio, himself, would be vulnerable as well. I had hoped that other powers would be able to locate and neutralize the self proclaimed Forgemaster. If those powers would be unable to interdict him, then I would free him from his vacation and suggest upon his return to let me have the key. I would do it really nicely
So listening to the tales of the other away teams when reassembled further confirmed my theories. Also when our mounted barbarian of doom teleported into a forge to assist a struggling away team, the Construct that gave us trouble seemed to go after him, leading to the hopes it functioned on threat based protocols, and it may go after the biggest perceived threat.
So a plan was forged (non shadow type) where we would all go into two staging areas in the outer forge, and a team of seven would head into the remaining forge to discuss eviction procedures. This would have two teams to hold the outset sides of the portals, allowing us to fall back if things went wonky and bring in help if needed. Apparently the Iron Hawks would fly in first with a few non-hawks who were adamant on joining.
In we went, the two teams took up defensive positions around the portals with Linden Rue riding Vadath who was riding Tempest the fanged.green goober leading the assault into the final Shadowforge. Delphi, Cynthia, Boros, Ishak, and Myself fleshed out the initial assault team. Fey sending stones were distributed for clear communications from one side of the portals to the other. Once more into the Shadow Breach!
Facing us was a fully engaged Shadowforge. The Raw sickley meh of the shadow energy swirled about out whole of the forge. The Tackey purple lighting was pulsing throughout the whole of the forge and the draw it had on the material and shadow realms was almost whirlpool like. There were some glaive and chain constructs standing at attention in a V in front of a Multi Headed Mini Tiamat monstrosity. Behind was the man, the myth, the moron - Horatio.
Now, he was a bit far away, but our Monk, being a Monk, was able to bypass all the defenders with Cynthia in tow and personally confront Horatio in a face to face meeting. This caused Horatio to disappear and reappear within my reach. Well, reach for my spells. So as soon as I could, I suggested to the poor overworked man, to go home, take a rest for a bit, put up his feet, and let us take care of the forge. We would clean it up and be ready for his arrival in the far future.
Seeing my point, he decided to take my advice and leave. I was confused as he hung out and wandered over to the table and picked up a strange obsidian looking stone plaque with runic looking etching upon it and shadowed out. I had assumed he had the key on him, but it was sitting on a work table not 15 feet from me. Anyway, this was my first meeting with Horatio so I had nothing personal against him and hoped to not have to see him again as others should have been able to take him. Worst case, after shutting down the forge I would see him come back with the key, so he could hand it over to me.
Without the Forge Master, the battle was still tough in the Shadow Forge. With defenders switching into the strike force as others slide out to assist with the portal defense teams. The surging shadow forge caused a glitch and the portals shifted on top of each other, this would make it almost impossible to know which porta was taken. Adventures fell to breath weapons as all the smaller constructs fell to sword and spells. Most of the strike force used their actions wisely, although there was one who thought looting the random tables was more important than assisting the whole of the three teams in the assigned tasks. Tokax an Elven Warrior managed to just arrive to the front lines and begin to damage the Left side controls. The Dracohydra breathed cold and froze her solid, forever giving her life for the future of Quelmar.
We had just destroyed the left side forge controls when in came the large Construct very similar to that which ruined our fun in the first Shadowforge and almost wiped one of the early assault teams. We will refer to this horror as AH Construct
Time for Tristram’s Popcorn Shack to open for business offering safety, healing, and light refreshments. We set it up with Ishak and myself inside and damaging the right side of the controls. Through some surge of shadow magic the portals that had merged, now shifted to the inside of the shack. Ishak slid out to give Vadath some needed healing potions before slipping through the portal to assist with portal defense. This was the last I ever saw of him and he apparently heroically sacrificed himself to save our defending allies. We would fulfill his god’s mission for him and honor his memory.
The Battle was very much in doubt when the AH Construct strode forward and attacked the Dracohydra. Well, that theory proved itself as pondered. Also at this time one of the portals fell and we had an influx of reinforcements into the shack and they were hungry for popcorn and vengeance upon the Shadowforge. The Dracohydra fell to the AH Construct just as we managed to destroy the rest of the forge machinery.
With the playing field shrunk to the AH Construct I thought it was time to Bring back Horatio and roll the dice with having to take the key off him and take control of the forge. My hope that other powers would take the chance to remove that piece from the field was quickly fading. I stopped thinking of him and his mini vacation, releasing him from the grip of my spell. Warning all in range that the Forgemaster may be on his way. Forgeless and Minionless, but still dangerous.
However the Voice of a triumphant Curator echoed through our minds with a crescendo of ‘ Got Him’ and we suddenly found ourselves back in the chapel of the ruined hamlet. That musing that removing the Forgemaster from the Forge made him vulnerable as his charred, crumpled body was lying lifeless upon the floor. I love it when a plan comes together. With a quick feeding of BBEG to the ravenous green booger Triumph, the story of Horatio the Shadowforge Master comes to a close.
The stories of two of our allies had ended as well, however they will live on in the tales of those who survived. Each and everyone who was there played a key role in the victory and tales of their exploits will be sung through the ages.
Vadath
After months of effort by Vadath and many other adventurers Horatio Chesire had finally been located and cornered. A powerful Fey only known as the Currator summoned many adventures to finally bring Horatios evil to an end. Seven members of The Band of Iron Hawk were present for this raid. Horatio had holed himself up in a micro dimension known as The Shadow Forges. This realm was stuck between our material plane and the plane of shadow. These forges were how Horatio constructed his monstrosities. The Currator told us that four forges were active and that we needed to try and shit down three of them before we could confront Horatio. Hearing this three strike teams were formed. Two teams of six and one of five. Vadath along with Zen, Tristram, Linden, and Delphi took the role of the group of five. Arlin and Percy were each sent with a different group of six making sure each group had at least one guild member in it. The Currator use powerful and strange Fey magics to bolster all the adventurers. Vadaths greatsword became magical and was easier to swing, he felt heartier then ever before, and he felt like a colossus while mounted on Tempest. Vadath and his four companies were sent into their forge and upon entering found a group of Chesire Goblins and a Chesire Orc. They seemed to be arguing and getting ready to leave. Vadath immediately took the charge and rushed in on Tempest and began cutting down the enemies. He chased them down a hallway into a more open room to find even more Chesire Orcs working some strange machinery. To his right were three portals spewing out different things the furthest from him was exoelling boddies into the room. Tristram attempted to hypnotize the orcs but only managed to snare one in his spell. Vadath and the group began fighting not only the orcs but the forge itself. It seemed to him like the forge was defending itself. Before long a strange flesh monstrosity materialized from the center of a magical ring on the far end of the forge. Vadath disengaged the orcs and along with Zen began to fight the hideous beast. As they fought on the beast swallowed Zen whole and the forge began to animate the corpses that were piling up from the portal. Tristram used magic to free Zen from the beast and before it could fall the yet another mound of animated flesh was summoned from the forge. Vadath, Tempest and Zen dealt with the first and engaged the second as they did this the other party members were attack the forge machinery. Two orcs remained as one attempted to wake his friend from Tristrams spell sadly he was successful. The Orc woke up and smashed down a giant red button and from the same part of the forge that summoned the flesh beast came forth a Sentinel like no other. Vadath knew the group was in trouble and left the second flesh beast to Zen. The Sentinel teleported into the middle of the group and began its assault. Vadath and Tempest charged in hoping to draw its attention and were successful. While fighting this metal behemoth Vadath heard Zen getting swallowed again and Tristram yet again came to Zens aid. The Sentinel summoned for lightning blast that arced in between the party striking multiple members at once. As the battles raged Tempest was magically banished from the forge. The group had used most of its resources and still fought on even though the odds were agaisnt them. It was then Tristram deployed a curious strategy he had used before. Tristram summoned what he called his pop corn hut. This was truly a sanctuary. The group ran into this opaque hut for safety. The flesh monster and the Sentinel were not able to penitrate its magic. Linden summoned a swarm of magical bunnies on the machinery and Delphi used her magic to create a cloud of Daggers. This magic destroyed the the forge machinery. The two spell casters then used their abilities to move the magics to hit the remain flesh monster and the Sentinel. The hut held fast as the enemies fell and forge buried the party in over three tons of rubble. The Iron Hawks had stopped the forge and its creations but were now trapped under rubble. The group had no way to escape till they called out to the Currator for aid. With his mysterious power the Currator was able to teleport the adventurers to safety. It wasn't long after that that Arlins group returned from their forge also badly wounded and barely alive. Vadath waited eagerly for his 1st Lieutenant Percy to return with his group. Vadath and Delphi knew the group was in trouble and asked the Currator to send them to the last forge to help. Upon entering into the last forge Vadath and Delphi were greeted with carnage similar to what they had experienced. The party was struggling to survive fighting the forge and a Sentinel of their own. Vadath immediately and without hesitation charged the Sentinel. He attacked it wildly scoring several solid strikes on the colossus. Delphi healed those she could as the rest of the partied rallied what they could and attacked the Sentinel and the forge. Eventually they were successful in shutting down the forge and destroying the Sentinel. The group was teleported back to the Currator where all the adventurers prepped for the coming battle agaisnt Horatio Chesire himself inside the final forge of which he was its master.
